It is time to change the way that teachers learn, work, plan and collaborate with each other. The current model of lesson planning and delivery of instruction finds its roots in the 19th century, whereby individual craft workers rely upon their own set of skills and tools to design and create individual products. New technologies have emerged over the last decade that have the potential to revolutionize the way that teachers learn and collaborate to become better instructors, receive and engage in professional development, and how they deliver excellent instruction to their students.
Working together we have the opportunity to change the way that great lessons are created and then how they are implemented via high quality professional development and reflection.
This project will involve two parts:
Part I: Design and Create. A group of exemplary math teachers from the BPS and other districts, working with the Office of Professional Development, the Office of Information and Instructional Technology and the Math Department, will come together to design and build a series of innovative and engaging lessons that meet the following criteria:
1. Exciting, fun and innovative;
2. Aligned with clearly articulated professional standards;
3. Aligned with best practices based curricula (ie Connected Math) or best practices standards;
4. Embedded with higher order thinking skills and questions;
5. A source of links to additional web-resources (including online video catologues by Discovery and History Channel, streaming video from news services, podcasts, interactive maps, activities, applets, etc., that are age and subject appropriate) and;
6. Capable of being re-written, adjusted or modified to fit any classroom
These will be complete lessons that include the following elements:
1. A Launch, Do-Now or Preview Activity
2. A mini-lesson
3. Hands-On Problem Solving Activity/Small Group or Pairs Activity
4. A processing activity
5. Assessments and reinforcement assignments.
6. Elements of differentiated instruction to meet the needs of ELL and SPED students.
7. Videos and podcasts of exemplary instructors leading these best practices based lessons.
Part II: Implementation and On-Going Professional Development
In the second phase of this initiative, our group of exemplary teachers working collaboratively with the Math Department and the Office of Professional Development will bring math teachers at targeted schools together for on-going Professional Development around using our best practices based lessons.
This P&D will include but not be limited to:
Previewing lessons and videos
Planning modifications for ELL and SPED students
Implementing lessons collaboratively with coaches and exemplary teachers.
Reflections on best practices both in small group settings and on-line via elearning formats and wikis.
It is time to change the way that teachers learn, work, plan and collaborate with each other. The current model of lesson planning and delivery of instruction finds its roots in the 19th century, whereby individual craft workers rely upon their own set of skills and tools to design and create individual products.
New technologies have emerged over the last decade that have the potential to revolutionize the way that teachers learn and collaborate to become better instructors, receive and engage in professional development, and how they deliver excellent instruction to their students.
Working together we have the opportunity to change the way that great lessons are created and then how they are implemented via high quality professional development and reflection.
This project will involve two parts:
Part I: Design and Create. A group of exemplary math teachers from the BPS and other districts, working with the Office of Professional Development, the Office of Information and Instructional Technology and the Math Department, will come together to design and build a series of innovative and engaging lessons that meet the following criteria:
1. Exciting, fun and innovative;
2. Aligned with clearly articulated professional standards;
3. Aligned with best practices based curricula (ie Connected Math) or best practices standards;
4. Embedded with higher order thinking skills and questions;
5. A source of links to additional web-resources (including online video catologues by Discovery and History Channel, streaming video from news services, podcasts, interactive maps, activities, applets, etc., that are age and subject appropriate) and;
6. Capable of being re-written, adjusted or modified to fit any classroom
These will be complete lessons that include the following elements:
1. A Launch, Do-Now or Preview Activity
2. A mini-lesson
3. Hands-On Problem Solving Activity/Small Group or Pairs Activity
4. A processing activity
5. Assessments and reinforcement assignments.
6. Elements of differentiated instruction to meet the needs of ELL and SPED students.
7. Videos and podcasts of exemplary instructors leading these best practices based lessons.
Part II: Implementation and On-Going Professional Development
In the second phase of this initiative, our group of exemplary teachers working collaboratively with the Math Department and the Office of Professional Development will bring math teachers at targeted schools together for on-going Professional Development around using our best practices based lessons.
This P&D will include but not be limited to: